[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]"But if you didn't find "
Claw shook his head regretfully. "The blood stank of Devil's
Silver. Imps eat those they bring down. They devour them alive. The trail
ended there." Claw rubbed his hand over his face. "Nikko did not walk away or
we would have found traces. He died there. I'm sorry."
Granta shrieked again.
Malthus covered his surprise by lowering his head.
So
Nikko managed to kill some of Gahni's people before he died?
Impressive.
"I'll stay with her until her daughters get here," Merissa said.
"I don't want you walking home alone." Claw grimaced in distaste, looking
impatient to be out of there.
"I'll see that she gets home." Malthus stepped close to
Merissa.
Claw eyed Malthus. "You're that Malthus who's always hanging around the
gardens."
"I am. My nieces like playing with Darmyk."
"I've heard a lot about you," Claw growled. "No messing around. Just bring her
straight home. You understand?" He
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by Janrae Frank
295
laid the bundle of Nikko's clothes on Granta's table, turned, and strode out.
Once Granta's daughters arrived, Merissa walked home with Malthus' arm around
her shoulders, leaning her head against his chest. Fresh bouts of weeping
continued to come.
"Why Nikko? He was so kind. Tempest, Beth, and now Nikko.
I feel like my heart is being ripped out of me."
"He was a good mon. The village couldn't have wanted for a better lawgiver."
Merissa turned her tear streaked face to Malthus. "Nikko and I grew up
together. If I hadn't already been in love with someone else at the time, I
think I could have loved him. He was so kind and gentle. So patient."
They paused beneath a spreading chestnut tree and
Malthus drew Merissa into his arms, holding her protectively.
"I love you, Merissa. It breaks my heart to see you so unhappy ... so
overburdened with grief."
"Malthus..."
His lips covered hers as he pressed her back to the elm tree. She wrapped her
arms around him, moaning softly as his body moved suggestively against hers.
Merissa's hand slid down to the conspicuous bulge in Malthus' pants, and he
responded by grinding his erection into her loins so hard it seemed as if the
cloth separating them would tear.
"Get inside, Merissa!" Kynyr strode into the courtyard, glaring at Malthus.
"Your father can see you from the window."
Merissa paled and twisted free of Malthus, fleeing into the manor.
Serpent's Quest [Lycan Blood Vol. I]
by Janrae Frank
296
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"Stay away from her, Malthus. Stay the bloody hell away from her."
Malthus regarded Kynyr, a dark, arrogant turn to his lips.
"Make me."
Kynyr's fist shot out, caught Malthus in the face, and sent him sprawling into
the dirt. Then he turned on his heel and stalked back into the manor.
"I'll give you that one. Next one will cost you."
Serpent's Quest [Lycan Blood Vol. I]
by Janrae Frank
297
CHAPTER TWENTY
SHOPS, DIARIES, AND MURDER
Cahira stood in the street, her head craned back as she watched Todd and the
two Scott cubs, Rory and Hamish, hang the big wooden sign on her shop:
Cahira's Potions and
Notions. Underneath the words were three sets of symbols that the largely
illiterate lycan community could understand:
a mortar and pestle; a serpent wrapped staff; a book, a bottle of ink, and a
quill.
"Potions, healing, scribe, and translator. I do it all."
When Todd suggested they should hire some help around the place, Cahira had
immediately decided upon Rory, because Finn had told her about Rory fetching
them when
Kynyr was in danger and she felt she owed the boy a debt
although she had not told Rory that. Rory had turned out to be an impressive
negotiator for just nine years old, persuading her to hire his eight year old
brother also. So now the Scott cubs worked around the shop and living area for
two coppers each a week, plus lunch.
Rory glanced over his shoulder as he started down the ladder, and gave a loud
derisive hoot. "Watcha lookin' at ya old stink face!"
Cahira lifted an eyebrow and turned around to see who
Rory had directed his insult at.
Serpent's Quest [Lycan Blood Vol. I]
by Janrae Frank
298
Baroucha stood on the wooden boardwalk across the street, glaring at the sign.
"Don't get too cozy, Cahira. You won't last."
Despite the summer heat, Baroucha wore a high collared dress of heavy fabric
that snugged her neck. It tied on the from shoulder to hips. Baroucha made no
attempt to hide the fact that her breasts sagged almost to her waist. She
carried a fighting knife on her belt that made Cahira wonder what might have
changed with Baroucha: she had never carried one when they were young.
"I like it here, Baroucha."
"Don't cross me, Cahira. You'll regret it."
Cahira's lips tightened. "You weren't so bold when I caught you trying to
poison Kynyr."
Baroucha sucked in a sharp breath and retreated as Cahira approached her. "It
wasn't poison."
"But it would have killed him. So what's the difference?
Hmmmn?"
"Get away from me." Baroucha made a sign against the
Evil Eye, and scuttled off down the street.
Todd stepped from the ladder, chuckling. "It's a god's guess what she'll try
to pull. But she'll try something."
"I hope so. Then I'll step on her and squash her like a bug."
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